The continuing effort to stabilize pro baseball in Joliet was boosted after new Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) ownership and management met with local fans. In theory, Joliet should be a good baseball market if the numbers are correct. And while indy baseball initially did OK at Silver Cross Field during the early days of […]
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Joliet approves Slammers lease
A new lease with lowered rent has been approved by the city for the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League), clearing the way for a new ownership group to buy the team from businessman Alan Oremus. The deal, approved last night by the City Council, is along the lines set down earlier: it lowers the base […]
Joliet offers lowered ballpark lease to new Slammers owners
It’s a deal that makes baseball more viable in Joliet while rewarding the city if the new owners of the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) are successful, as the City Council will discuss a proposed Silver Cross Field lease on Monday. The broad terms of the proposed lease, as negotiated by city manager Tom Thanas, […]
Joliet Slammers on the market
After two years of losses, the owners of the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) put the team on the market and are negotiating with two prospective new ownership groups. Alan Oremus of Steel City Baseball LLC, along with team president Bill Waliewski, decided to pull the plug on their ownership of the team after totaling […]
Boomers making good first impression in Schaumburg
After years of strife over professional baseball and the future of Alexian Field, the management of the Schaumburg Boomers (independent; Frontier League) are wowing the locals. You know the backstory: the final years of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) were marked by disputes with the city over rent, cultimated by the eviction of the […]
Schaumburg to Frontier League: sources
Though it’s not a totally done deal, we’re told, it appears likely the Pat Salvi-owned Schaumburg team will be playing in the independent Frontier League next season, as he honors a deal struck by former owner Alan Oremus. We reported on this earlier this month, raising the potential that a Frontier League team, and not […]
Salvi buys Schaumburg lease, will own new team
Pat Salvi, owner of the Gary SouthShore RailCats (independent; American Association), has bought the Alexian FIeld lease from Alan Oremus and has appointed Andy Viano as team president of the as-yet-unnamed Schaumburg team. The future of the Schaumburg team, originally slated to play in the American Association, has been in doubt in several weeks; there […]
American Association down two for 2012 and beyond
The growth of the independent American Association is slowing, as two teams expected to join the league in 2012 and 2013 — teams in Schaumburg and Montgomery County — will likely be playing elsewhere. The American Association had been a player in Schaumburg’s decision to grant Alan Oremus the lease to Alexian Field last offseason […]
Slammers work hard to regain community trust
The Joliet JackHammers almost salted the territory after failing to pay bills the past few seasons, but the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) are working hard to regain community trust — and succeeding. The JackHammers folded after owing $400,000 to vendors and $200,000 to the city for rent at Silver Cross Field — a deficit […]
Waliewski: Split duties as Slammers prez, broadcaster
Bill Waliewski will serve two roles this season with the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League): Besides serving as team president, he’s be the color analyst on WJOL game broadcasts, joining Mark Vasko in the broadcast booth. We can’t remember a situation where a team president served double duty as a broadcaster, but the Slammers are […]
Oremus moves forward on Schaumburg lease
Alan Oremus and his investors have 90 days to finalize a lease for Alexian Field, the former home of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League), as both the Village Board and Park District gave initial approval to the group this week. The ballpark is available because the Flyers were evicted earlier this month for nonpayment […]
American Association lands Schaumburg
In a surprising upset, the independent American Association lands the lease for Schaumburg‘s Alexian Field, despite not promising to field a team there for the 2011 season; Alan Oremus will own the team. Other leagues had made proposals for the lease, including the independent North American League and at least three groups with ties to […]
New group takes control of Joliet ballpark
The regime change in Joliet, Ill., is complete, as a new ownership group led by Alan Oremus takes control of Silver Cross Field and sets up operations today. Now comes the fun part: prepping for the 2011 season. Steel City Baseball paid $915,000 for the privilege of playing at Silver Cross Field, along with all […]